with a ban on so-called assault weapons, all but dead in the senate according to top democrat harry reid, the vice president said he's not giving up. >> i'm not going to rest nor is the president until we do all of these things, all of these things. >> he told the family of a teacher killed protecting children in the newtown, connecticut, school shooting, that the country needs some political backbone. >> you know, it's time for the political establishment to show the courage your daughter showed. >> the father of a 6-year-old also killed at newtown said shame on the congress. >> i'm really ashamed to see that congress doesn't have the guts to stand up and make a change, and put a ban on these type of weapons and universal background checks. >> from new york's mayor bloomberg, a call for public pressure. >> if you want to make a difference, you better pick up the phone, call your congress person. >> but what happened was no surprise. conservative democrats in the senate up for reelection risk riling up pro-gun forces in an election year, if they vote for the ban. democratic supporters li